Replenishing mechanism for looms



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. THEODORE S. Hlesms @Zt/hflmz i (.Iili

ATTORNEY v T. S. HIGGINS REZPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Oct. 11; 1960 Filed Oct; a1. 1958 Oct. 11, 1960 T. s. HIGGINS REPLENISHING MECHANISM FoR' LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1958 XXI, I

INVENTOR. THEODORE S. HIGGINS A TTORNE Y Oct. 11, 19 T. s. HIGGINS REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 31, 1958 V IN V EN TOR. THEODORE .S. H/sa/Ns A TTORNE Y United Sttes Fatent 6 Claims. (Cl. 139247) This invention relates to looms for weaving and, in particular, to improvements in the timer mechanism for air operated filling bunch control means for use with automatic batteries for looms wherein a supply of bobbins or filling packages is automatically controlled incidental to transfer to a shuttle.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a timer mechanism elfective to control the operation of both an extractor mechanism for removing the filling bunch from a bobbin and a suction device for holding and withdrawing said filling bunch from its bobbin, said timer mechanism including a positively driven valve means adapted to be returned to a closing position in a continuous and uniform manner while avoiding any binding of parts or alignment problems between the driving means and the valve.

It is a further object to provide a timer mechanism which is responsive to the transfer device of the loom, the latter including a bobbin feeding means for retaining and presenting for transfer to the loom shuttle a supply of bobbins having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, said transfer device being adapted to move the leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment, wherein the extractor mechanism comprises an air-operated gripping and suction means for removing the bunch from the bobbin ends and for disposing of it and retaining the end which the shuttle is picked, and wherein the timer mechanism includes a continuouslyrotating shaft controlled by a constant speed means.

It is a further object to provide a timer-valve means Patented Oct. 11, 1960 2,942,629, an improved timer mechanism has been disclosed which is controllable to extremely accurate limits through movementof the lay which actuates a ratcheting device to impart periodic movement to a valve controlling the air supply to a suction device. A toothed rack is employed therein to transfer motion from the ratcheting device to thecontrol valve.

According to the present invention, all the advantages of the device of the above-cited application have been retained while eliminating the need for the toothed rack and substituting therefor a continuously driven rack at a uniform speed by a constantly rotating means.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings:

wherein:

the timer assembly attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the right side of' the loom.

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlargement of a small portion of Fig. 2. showing parts of the timer with the 100m shut off.

Fig. 5 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 4 with the loom running.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the timer assembly. Fig. 7 is an end view as seen from the left side of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a modification of the device shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is another modification of the device of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the right hand side of a loom with the invention applied thereto.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the timer mechanism is denoted by the letter T and is mounted to the right side of the loom by means of a bracket 11. Conduits 12 and 13 lead, re-

spectively, to an air-operated extractor mechanism and to a suction device adjacent a bobbin feeding means for retaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, all of which are disclosed in United States having two separately controlled air compartments whereby air may be supplied to the extractor mechanism and to the suction device for different periods of time.

Other objects will be apparent from the description of the device which follows:

In United States Patent No. 2,845,957 there is disclosed a suction thread disposal means as a part of a filling bunch extractor connected to an air system at the loom and controlled by a timer means acting to valve air to the system upon the initial movement of the members of the bobbin transfer system. The timer disclosed therein operates to actuate an air-controlled extractor head which operates to remove the tip bunch from its bobbin and simultaneously provides suction to a device which holds and finally removes this bunch as well as the filling end of the exhausted, outgoing supply from the selvage to the usual Stafford type cutter mechanism at the proper instantf Such a timer, however, after a period of time tends to become inaccurate in its operation due to its becoming clogged by lint at that point Where air is permitted to bleed into the timer to close thejvalv'e, controlling the air supply for the suction device; Thus, the period of time during which the latter inoperationmay not be constant. i

' In' the United States patent application Serial No. 761,127, filed September 15, 1958, now Patent No.

Patent No. 2,845,957 to which reference may be had for a more complete description thereof. Fig. 12 illustrates the replenishing mechanism which may be substantially identical to that of the patent and which includes a chute C which functions as a feeding means for a supply of bobbins B having filling F wound thereon an end of which is Wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end. A transfer arm A moves the leading bobbin into the shuttle S upon call for replenishment immediately subse-- quent to the removal of the tip bunch from that bobbin by an air operated gripping and suction means including an extractor E. The operation of such a device is more fullyexplained in the above-mentioned patent and forms no part of the present invention.

0 pressor arm 14 is pivotally mounted on the bracketat 15 and the inlet plunger depressor 16 is fixed so that it is movable with the depressor arm to the right as shown in Fig. 5 when the loom is running and to the left as shown in Fig. 4 when the loom is shut off. Movement of the depressor arm in one direction or the other causes a corplunger 17 is depressed and when the loom is off the depressor arm and plunger are just touching each other. A

valve depressor 19 causes depression of the plunger 20 and is actuated by rearward movement of the bobbin transfer mechanism of the'loom (not shown).

As seen in Fig. 8 the timenassembly comprises an air.

An inlet plunger de-- valve 21 interconnecting the compartments 22 and 23. A valve head 24 is threadably mounted to the valve body 25 forming a portion of compartment 23 and contains a third compartment 26 co-ax'ial compartments 22' and 23. The air valve body contains a pressure chamber 27 and passageway 28 separated by a valve 29 mounted in one end of the plunger 17 and biased in the direction of passageway 28 by a spring 30. An inlet union 31 interconnects an air inlet hose 32 with the pressure chamber 27.

Compartment 22 and passageway 28 are interconnected by means of a further passageway 33 and compartment 22 is normally closed at one end by the valve 21 biased by a spring 34 and mounted intermediate a timer plunger 35, and at its other end is sealed by an air valve head 36 having an opening therein to permit the passage through the valve head of the plunger 35.

Thus, it may be seen that when the shipper arm is in the otf position as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the plunger 17 is in its outermost position and the valve 29 is thus closed and no air can be received in the air valve body beyond the chamber 27. When the shipper arm is pulled forward of the loom, the inlet plunger depressor arm 14 is moved rearwardly moving with it the depressor 16 which causes a depression of the plunger 17, opening the valve 29 and permitting air under pressure to fill the compartment 22. The valve 21 normally prevents escape of air beyond this compartment.

The valve head 24 has formed therein an outlet opening with which is threadedly engaged a tube fitting 37 for connecting the conduit 12 to a filling bunch extractor head (not shown). The plunger 20 is insertable through an opening in one end of the valve head 24 and has fixed to the enclosed end of the plunger a valve 38. The plunger 20 further contains two radial openings 39 and 40 interconnected by an axial passageway P, so located that when the valve 46 is closed, the opening 39 appears outside the valve head and opening 40 Within it. A spring 41 keeps the valve 38 normally closed and also prevents rotation and subsequent wear of plunger 20. An opening 42 in compartment 23 permits interconnection of the conduit 13 (Fig. 2) with a suction device connected to the extractor for removal of the filling bunch after it has been cut by the usual Stafford type thread cutter. The left end of the timer plunger 35 as seen in Fig. 8 is in close proximity to the valved end of the plunger 20 so that as the transfer mechanism of the loom causes a depression of the plunger 20, the valve 21 will be caused to open as well as the valve 3-3. A rod 43 is press fitted into plunger 20 and is slidable axially in plunger 35 so as to maintain alignment therebetween. An air inlet plunger guide 44 is fixed to the outer circumference of the valve head 24 and has an opening therein for sup porting the plunger 17. Rubber rings R are insertable into slots in the valve body and outlet connections to pre vent escape of air.

A rack 45 is formed at the right side of the plunger 35 and extends completely about the circumference. A housing 46 fixed to the valve body 25 encloses a spring clutch assembly comprising a shaft 47 having an enlarged portion 48 coinciding with an extension of a clutch gear 49. A spring 50 encompasses the enlarged shaft portion and the clutch gear extension so that the clutch gear is freely rotatable on the shaft in a direction which releases the spring, but when turned in the opposite direction the shaft 47 must turn with it. A worm gear 51 is fixed to the shaft 47 and is rotated by means of a single lead worm 52. The worm is connected through a chain 53 to a motor 54 which is preferably a clock type motor which turns at about 180 r.p.m. The leads of the motor are preferably connected to the stop motion switch of the loom so that when the loom is not running, the motor will stop turning. v

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, the motor and chain have been replaced by a belt drive 55 from a constantaly rotating shaft 56 which is rotatable during operation of the loom.

In Fig. 11 the belt drive is shown as being replaced by a flexible shaft 57. By means of any of the three types of drives disclosed, the worm gear 51 is driven uniformly and continuously during loom operation in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 8, l0 and 11.

In the operation of the timer assembly, movement of the shipper arm forward causes a depression of the plunger 17 thus admitting air under pressure to compartment 22. When a call for transfer of a bobbin is made, thereby affecting the transfer mechanism of the loom, the valve depressor 19 actuates the plunger 26 thus opening valve 38 and in turn plunger 35 is actuated to open the valve 21. Thus, air under pressure is admitted to compartments 22 and 23 and to the suction device and extractor head, respectively therefrom. At the same time the rack 45 rotates the gear 49 in a clockwise direction an amount equal to the depression of the plunger 20. The motor 54 is effecting continuous rotation counterclockwise of shaft 47 by means of gear 51 fixed thereto. Release of the transfer mechanism returns the valve depressor to its normal position and the spring 34 tends to return the valve 21 to a closing position. However,since movement of plunger 35 to the left as viewed in Fig. 8 causes counterclockwise rotation of clutch gear 49, and since the clutch is engaged in this direction, the plunger 35 and valve 21 can be returned only at the rate they are permitted to do so by the speed of the clutch gear.

The air under pressure in compartment 26 leaks out fairly rapidly through radial openings 39 and 40 and their interconnecting passageway so that the extractor head is returned to its position over the next bobbin to be transferred in a relatively short period of time as is desirable to effect a transfer, if need be, each time that the shuttle is at the right side of the loom. The clutch mechanism permits a longer period of operation of the suction de- -vice, the motor speed and associated gear ratios being such that a inch depression of plunger 20 results in approximately a 36-pick delay in closing of the valve 21. Obviously, a smaller amount of depression of plunger 20 will result in a shorter delay period.

Formation of the rack 45 on the same shaft which forms the plunger 35 eliminates any possible alignment problems between the valve body and the clutch assembly and the use of a continuous driving means results in uniform operation of the valve 21.

While one embodiment and modifications of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination in a loom for weaving, a bobbin feeding means for retaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins, each having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, transfer means for moving the leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment, an air operated gripping and suction means for removing the bunch from the end of said leading bobbin and for disposing of it and retaining it while the shuttle is picked, and means for timing the action of said air operated gripping and suction means which comprises an enclosure including three co-axially aligned communicating compartments, a first valve permitting passage of air under pressure to a first of said compartments when said loom is in operation, a second spring-biased valve in said first compartment adapted to control passage of air from said first compartment into a second adjacent compartment, a third springbiased valve in said second compartment adapted to control passage of air from said second compartment into the third of said compartments, air outlet means in said second and third compartments, said third valve further being adapted to eifect opening of said second valve, and means for permitting continuous uninterrupted gradual closing ofsaid second valve immediately after each opening thereof.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said closing means comprises a continuously rotating spring clutch assembly connected to said second valve by gear means.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said clutch assembly is chain driven from a separate motor means.

4. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said clutch assembly is driven by means of a flexible shaft member.

5. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said clutch assembly is belt driven from a rotatable shaft.

6. A timing means for timing the action of a tip bunch extractor in a loom for weaving, said timing means comprising a series of three coaxially aligned communicating compartments, means for introducing air under pressure I into a first of said compartments, means for separately withdrawing air from the second and third of said compartments, a spring-biased valve controlling passage of air between said first and second compartments, a further spring-biased valve controlling passage of air between said second and third compartments, means whereby opening of said further valve effects opening of said first-mentioned valve, and a continuously rotating gear member adapted to permit gradual closing 'of said further valve after each opening thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 752,703 Orndorf Feb. 23, 1904 930,124 Barr Aug. 3, 1909 1,992,198 Dushane Feb. 26, 1935 2,546,695 Macgeorge Mar. 27, 1951 2,845,957- Banks et a1 Aug. 5, 1958 

